As a child, Alain Robert was afraid of high places. One day, when he was 12, he went back home from school. At the front door of his building, he looked for his keys. He didn’t have them. It was 3:30 and his parents worked until 6:00 pm. Alain looked at his apartment on the eighth floor. He saw an open window. He closed his eyes and imagined himself climbing the building. When he opened his eyes, he told himself, “I can do it.” Fifteen minutes later, he was in his house and his fear of high places was gone.
Today, Alain still climbs building. In 2003, he climbs a building in London dressed as Spiderman to advertise(为…做广告) the movie. In 2004, he climbed a building Taipei 101 (one of the tallest buildings in the world). To reach the top of a building, Alain uses only his hands and special shoes. He has no rope or other safety tools.
Alain climbs as a hobby. He also does it to make money for charity (for poor children and the homeless). When he climbs, he wants to send a message to people. If you have a dream or something you really want to do, it can become real. But you must be brave and keep trying. If something bad happens, don’t give up. Close your eyes and tell yourself, “I can do it.”
1.When Alain climbs a building, he uses ________.
A. his hands and special shoes
B. special tools
B. his hand only
D. his special shoes only
2. The underline word “charity” means “__________” in Chinese.
A. 享受 B. 休闲 C. 慈善 D. 消费
3.Alain climbs for two reasons. They are _________.
A. for fun and his health
B. for charity and for his job
C. for his health and for charity
D. for charity and for fun
4. If you feel afraid to do something, what is Alain’s advice?
A. Practice climbing buildings
B. Tell yourself “I can do it.”
C. If something bad happens, then stop.
D. Try to do something else.
Do you try to save electricity and magazines at home? Do you make your bed every day? Read about the home habits of Americans. Are they the same as yours?
Lights out | Saving magazines |
Are you careful about saving electricity? 25% of people turn off the lights when they leave a room. 8% never do. 80% leave the lights on when they go out in the evening. | How long do you save magazines? About half the population throws away old ones after six months. But 20% keep them for years and years. |
Clean and tidy | Making beds and doing dishes |
Are you an organized person? 13% of people like to keep the rooms clean and tidy. The common home has fourteen cleaning products around the house. | 74% of people make their beds every morning. 5% never do. And 3% actually change their sheets (床单) every day. Do you wash the dishes right after eating? 58% of Americans do, but 5% let theirs sit for several days. |
判断正误，（正确的填A，错误的填B）
1.The passage mainly talks about the home habits of Americans.
2.80% of Americans go out in the evening with the lights on.
3.One fifth of Americans keep magazines for years and years.
4.Most Americans like to keep the rooms clean and tidy.
5.The people who make the beds are as many as those who wash the dishes every day.
完形填空。
Life is not easy, so I’d like to say “When anything happens, believe in yourself.” When I was a young boy, I was ________ shy to talk to anyone. My classmates often ________ me. I was sad but could do nothing. Later, ________ happened, and it changed my life. It was an English speech contest. My mother asked me to ________ it. What a terrible idea! It meant I had to speak before all the teachers and students of my school.
“Come on, boy. Believe in yourself. You are sure to ________ the contest.” Then mother and I talked about many different topics. At last I chose the topic “Believe in yourself.” I tried my best to remember all the speech and practiced it over 100 ________ . With my mother’s great love, I did ________ in the contest. I could hardly believe my ears when the news came that I had won the first place. I heard the cheers ________ the teachers and all the students. Those classmates who once looked down on（看不起） me, now all said“________ ” to me. My mother hugged（拥抱）me and cried excitedly.
Since then, everything has changed for me. When I do anything, I try to tell ________ to have confidence. This is not only for a person but also for a country.
1.A. too B. so C. quite D. very
2.A. made faces B. looked after C. caught up with D. laughed at
3.A. nothing B. something C. everything D. anything
4.A. take part in B. join C. get D. make
5.A. lose B. win C. pass D. beat
6.A. words B. topics C. times D. sentences
7.A. well B. good C. bad D. weak
8.A. for B. at C. from D. to
9.A. Good luck. B. Best wishes. C. Thank you. D. Congratulations.
10.A. us B. me C. mine D. myself
－There’ll be a new film tonight.
－________! Let's go to the cinema together,
A. Take it easy B. Good luck
C. With pleasure D. Wonderful
－ Mum, can you tell me ? I dreamed of him last night.
－ Next week.
A. when my dad came back
B. where my dad goes
C. when my dad will come back
D. where my dad will go
－Excuse me, I’m looking for Be the Best of Yourself.
－Sorry. The book you ask for ______ out.
A. is selling B. is sold C. was selling D. will be sold
